◈ Ruling on Double Adhān and Its Legitimacy for All Five Prayers ◈
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 318
What is the ruling on double adhān (adhān with repetition of the shahādah phrases)?
Is it permissible to pronounce double adhān for all five daily prayers?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✔ The double adhān (adhān with repetition of shahādah) is established as sunnah based on the ḥadīth of Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه).
Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ personally taught me the adhān, saying:
Say: Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar,
Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh,
Then repeat:
Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim; Taqrīb al-Ruwāt, Vol. 1, p. 113)
This ḥadīth clearly shows that the phrases of testimony (shahādah) were taught to be pronounced eight times — two in a low tone, then two in a loud tone, for each of the two testimonies.
This form is known as tarjīʿ (تَرجِيع).
In Abū Dāwūd’s narration, tarjīʿ is explicitly described as sunnah:
Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I said: O Messenger of Allah, teach me the sunnah of the adhān. He placed his hand on my forehead and taught me:
Say Allāhu Akbar four times,
Then in a low voice, say Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh twice and Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh twice,
Then repeat the same phrases aloud, and continue with the rest of the adhān.”
This narration confirms that double recitation of the shahādah phrases is part of the sunnah method of adhān.
“The adhān consists of 19 phrases, and the iqāmah consists of 17 phrases.”
(Narrated by Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, al-Dārimī, Ibn Mājah)
al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth.”
Although Imām al-Bayhaqī classified this narration as weak, Imām Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd refuted that weakness and authenticated it.
This count of 19 phrases in the adhān is only valid if the shahādah phrases are repeated (tarjīʿ).
If they are not repeated, the adhān contains only 15 phrases, which would contradict this authentic narration.
Therefore, rejecting tarjīʿ would mean rejecting a sound and accepted ḥadīth — which is not permissible.
Based on multiple sound and ḥasan aḥādīth:
➊ Double adhān (with tarjīʿ) is sunnah
➋ It is permissible and legitimate for all five daily prayers
➌ There is no authentic narration found prohibiting the practice of double adhān
✔ Double adhān is a sunnah practice established by the Prophet ﷺ himself
✔ It may be performed for all five daily prayers
✔ Denying or avoiding it on the basis of personal preference is against stronger narrations
✔ No evidence has been found in the Sunnah forbidding this method
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 318
❖ Question
What is the ruling on double adhān (adhān with repetition of the shahādah phrases)?
Is it permissible to pronounce double adhān for all five daily prayers?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ Double Adhān as a Sunnah
✔ The double adhān (adhān with repetition of shahādah) is established as sunnah based on the ḥadīth of Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه).
❖ Clear Ḥadīth Evidence
Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ personally taught me the adhān, saying:
Say: Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar,
Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh,
Then repeat:
Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu allā ilāha illa Allāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh, Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim; Taqrīb al-Ruwāt, Vol. 1, p. 113)
This ḥadīth clearly shows that the phrases of testimony (shahādah) were taught to be pronounced eight times — two in a low tone, then two in a loud tone, for each of the two testimonies.This form is known as tarjīʿ (تَرجِيع).
✿ Tarjīʿ is Sunnah — as per Clear Statements
In Abū Dāwūd’s narration, tarjīʿ is explicitly described as sunnah:
Abū Maḥdhūrah (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I said: O Messenger of Allah, teach me the sunnah of the adhān. He placed his hand on my forehead and taught me:
Say Allāhu Akbar four times,
Then in a low voice, say Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh twice and Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh twice,
Then repeat the same phrases aloud, and continue with the rest of the adhān.”
This narration confirms that double recitation of the shahādah phrases is part of the sunnah method of adhān.✿ Another Supporting Ḥadīth from Abū Maḥdhūrah
“The adhān consists of 19 phrases, and the iqāmah consists of 17 phrases.”
(Narrated by Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, al-Dārimī, Ibn Mājah)
al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth.”
Although Imām al-Bayhaqī classified this narration as weak, Imām Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd refuted that weakness and authenticated it.
❖ Proof from Phrase Count
This count of 19 phrases in the adhān is only valid if the shahādah phrases are repeated (tarjīʿ).
If they are not repeated, the adhān contains only 15 phrases, which would contradict this authentic narration.
Therefore, rejecting tarjīʿ would mean rejecting a sound and accepted ḥadīth — which is not permissible.✿ Summary of the Ruling
Based on multiple sound and ḥasan aḥādīth:➊ Double adhān (with tarjīʿ) is sunnah
➋ It is permissible and legitimate for all five daily prayers
➌ There is no authentic narration found prohibiting the practice of double adhān
Final Verdict
✔ Double adhān is a sunnah practice established by the Prophet ﷺ himself
✔ It may be performed for all five daily prayers
✔ Denying or avoiding it on the basis of personal preference is against stronger narrations
✔ No evidence has been found in the Sunnah forbidding this method
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
